August 26, 2009

MANASQUAN, NJ --  August 26, 2009: Several hospitals and health systems, and a national pharmaceutical benefit management company, have had Federal civil rights complaints filed against them following an investigation of a complaint filed with the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). 

The “under-the-radar’ federal office of Civil Rights – Health and Human Services enforcement actions are catching senior healthcare administrators by surprise and are leading to settlements with requirements of corrective actions. 

The hospitals, including Scottsdale Healthcare – Osborn, AZ, Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae, CA, Yale New Haven Hospital, and Medco Health Solutions, are among the healthcare-related organizations to have discrimination complaints filed against them for failing to provide effective and adequate access by individuals seeking their services who have limited English language proficiency, hearing loss or other language or communication restrictions. 

The issues surrounding the complaints include failing to provide a limited English person with an interpreter during his hospital stay and when given discharge instructions, and in another case, concerns about the implementation of an interpreter services policy. The result, according to the complaints filed is that the hospitals’ failure to provide language assistance to LEP persons denied them an equal opportunity to access their services. 

The complaints are being investigated under a new Federal priority. Health care providers are now being held accountable for ensuring that effective and adequate access is available for individuals who have limited English language proficiency, hearing loss or other language or communication restrictions that would impact their ability to access care and services. 

To make all hospital and healthcare providers aware of the new, stepped up Federal investigations and enforcement of the discrimination laws, a special audio webcast has been scheduled. 

“How to Ensure That Your Organization Is In Compliance With Regulations Governing Discrimination – What You Should be Doing To Be Prepared For the New, Stepped Up Enforcement Actions,” is scheduled Thursday, September 10, at 1:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

For complete details visit
http://www.healthresourcesonline.com/edu/discrimination.htm

Representatives of hospitals and other healthcare organizations are being invited to participate in the practical briefing session to ensure that their organizations are in compliance now and to make the necessary revisions to their policies, procedures and training programs to be in compliance.

Are your policies, procedures and training programs up-to-date and adequately address these access to services issues?

Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations, recipients of federal financial assistance are required to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs by limited English proficient individuals who are eligible to receive their services.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) have stepped up enforcement actions against health care providers for discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Get Details on This New Obama Administration Priority and How It May Affect Your Organization

If your organization fails to provide limited English proficiency members (LEP members) with meaningful access to services you could find yourselves in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

The Administration has begun an initiative to make prevention and to redress prohibited national origin, disabilities and other discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications a priority.

Learn what your organization should be doing now to protect itself and to manage risks under the Obama Administration priority program.

Agenda

• Overview of Health Care Provider Obligations Under Federal Civil Rights Laws
  
• Patient
• Employer
• Recent Enhanced Investigation And Enforcement Actions of Federal Discrimination Laws;
• New Administration Enforcement Emphasis
• Understanding the Heightened Willingness By Federal Agencies To Investigate And Enforce Charges;
• Risk Management Strategies And Tips
• Open Line Question And Answer Session

For complete details visit 
http://www.healthresourcesonline.com/edu/discrimination.htm

Address: The Managed Care Information Center, 1913 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 200, Manasquan, NJ 08736; (732) 292-1100, www.themcic.com.